By Semih Tuna / info@eurohoops.net 

Riga, Latvia – Turkey forward Adem Bona will be making his senior national team debut in the upcoming EuroBasket that tips off Wednesday (27/8).

On the eve of Turkey’s opener vs. Latvia, Bona praised the atmosphere among his teammates.

“The atmosphere within the team is very good, and we have a great bond,” Bona told Eurohoops. “The age balance is also very good; we’re a team made of experienced and young players. The bond between us is excellent, and our team chemistry, both on and off the court, is incredible. I’m very excited to be a part of this team. This will be my first EuroBasket, and it’s a huge achievement for me. So, I’m very excited.”

Bona admitted that Turkey’s goal is to win a medal. “One hundred percent. We have big goals as a team; we came here to win a medal. Winning a medal is a goal for us.”

The first game of Turkey in the EuroBasket will bring Bona against NBA veteran big man Kristaps Porzingis.

“Porzingis is a great player,” said Bona. “He’s very experienced and has been playing in the NBA for many years. We’ve been talking for a long time about how we should play against him as a team. I think we have enough players who can play against him. He’s a good player, there’s nothing against him, but as a team, we’ve prepared very well for this matchup.”

After registering 1.2 blocks over 15.6 minutes in his rookie NBA season with the Sixers, Bona got a 91 rating on blocks in NBA2K26.

“It’s amazing for me,” Bona commented. “I’ve only been in the NBA for one season, and to get a rating like this after my first year shows how hard I’ve worked. It also shows the trust my team has in me and the opportunity they’ve given me. They’ve given me the chance to do my best. I think this rating is a testament to my hard work for the team. Of course, it’s also a testament to the team’s confidence in me.”

Bona finally responded to the question, “Do you think Adem Bona and Alperen Şengün could be the ‘Tim Duncan’ and ‘David Robinson’ of the national team for years to come?” with the following answer:

“One hundred percent possible!”